Ranges of species

Cryptomys
The 5Cryptomys species were previously regarded as a single species Cryptomys hottentotus, but have sufficient DNA differences to justify species status.
They can currently only be distinguished by DNA according to the fundies (although earlier taxonomists recognized them as subspecies before DNA techniques).
The are probably allopatric and can thus be identified by their locality, although specific limits still need to be determined.
(see https://www.ewt.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/8.-Common-Mole-rats-Cryptomys-spp_LC.pdf & https://www.ewt.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/15.-Damaraland-Mole-rat-Fukomys_damarensis_LC.pdf for more)

We can use these for ID:

  • Common Molerat Cryptomys hottentotus
    W & E Cape, extending to N Cape & FS

  • Natal Molerat Cryptomys natalensis
    KZN, Mp, Li, Esw & Les, extending to E Cape.

  • Mahali Molerat Cryptomys mahali
    Gauteng (Patryshoek,), N Cape (Van Zyls Rus) & (Bloemhof) NW Cape - poorly known, but arid areas

  • Highveld Molerat Cryptomys pretoriae
    NW Cape, Gau, possibly down Limpopo River - a grassveld species

  • Matabeleland Molerat Cryptomys nimrodi
    Zim (Limpopo to Bulawayo - eastern limit undetermined)

Fucomys (morphologically indistinct from Cryptomys, but genetically quite different)

  • Damaraland Molerat Fukomys damarensis
    Bots, E Nam, just spilling over into Ang, Zam, Zim & N Cape & NWP - Red Kalahari sands

Bathyergus

  • Bathyergus suillus – Cape Dune Molerat
    Fynbos Biome, esp Sandveld, Strandveld and deep sands

  • Bathyergus janetta – Namaqua Dune Molerat
    coastal sands from Rodawel (NC) to s Nam
    (inland populations Kamiesberg may warrant subspecific status; Inland distribution in Namaqualand overlaps with Cryptomys; Groenriviermond to Rondawel overlaps withB. suillus).

Georychus
Possibly several species (4?) here, currently all treated as one.

  • Georychus capensis – Cape Molerat
    Fynbos Biome in sands and mountains. (Overlaps with Bathyergus in sands and Cryptomys in Mtns)
    Outliers in KZN midlands (Nottingham Road and Impendle) and Mp escarpment highveld (Belfast, Ermelo & Wakkerstroom) - overlap with Cryptomys natalensis (& possibly C. pretoriae).

Publicado el domingo, 02 de octubre de 2022 a las 08:49 AM por tonyrebelo tonyrebelo

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